Signaling device



May 28, 1929- J. B. ARCHIBALD 1,7152265 A SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 5o, 1923 2 sheets-shea 1 l if 33 i, I

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May 28 l929- J. B. ARCHIBALD t 1,715,265

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 30, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 2s, '1929.

UNITED STATES- f 1,715,255 satana' ortica.v

JOHN B. ARCHIBALD, OF YCEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 FRANK i F. DOVE AND ONE-THIRD TO FREDLARSON, BOTH 0F CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

SIGNAIJING DEVICE.

`Application led April 30, 1923. SeriaI No 635,698.

This invention relates to signals of the semaphore type, and to novel means whereby semaphore arms may be mechanically operated through electrically controlled circuits and electrically operated mechanism; the

' said invention having for an object the provision of novel means whereby a circuit may be established by a train for operating a semaphore at a crossing or the like, in order that the arms of the semaphore will be extended to warn travelers on the road of the approach of the train.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to produce a signaling device simulating a man, the arms of which are extended` asA semaphore arms and which are capable of moving to an approximately vertical position when theroad is clear and traiiic isto be uninterrupted.

Itis a further object of this invention tov produce a semaphore of the .characterv indicated which is eective and alike Von both sides,that is to say, both sides will represent the figure of a man, the arms of which oscili late and a warning can be therefore given from either side.

It is a further object of this invention to provide novel` arm operating devicesfeffective to swing the arms outwardly when a motoris energized by the establishment of the-circuit, the said device being operative to retain the arms in their extended position a predetermined time, or until the mechanism is tripped through the de-energization of a magnet that controls a det-ent,the latter of which is operative to hold the parts in their set positions with the armsl extended.

With the foregoing and other objects in( view, the invention consists in the details of construction, land in the arrangement and combination of-parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed. Y

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in theseveral views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates a view in elevation of a semaphore or signaling device embodying the invention, the casing of which is broken away to show the interior mechanism;

Figure 2 illustrates a View in elevation of the opposite side of the semaphore in its normal position;

Figure 3 illustrates 'a diagrammatic viewv Figure 6 illustrates a perspective viewof a Alever and brush associated therewith;

Figure 7 illustrates a sectional View on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6; y

vFigure 8 illustrates a perspective View of a lever and a member connected to it;

Figure 9 illustrates a perspective View of a dog in coactive relation tothe lever shown in Fig. 8; and

Figure 10 illustrates a perspective View of one of the semaphore arms with links connected to it. In these drawings, 15 denotes the semaphore casing or standard which is shaped to simu- Y late the outline of a human figure, and it is preferably provided with'the outline of a casing has apertures 16 through which light may be exposed, the said apertures being in the nature of a star or badge. The casing is lcap at the top to represent an officer; The

further provided with'aperturesor windows f.

17, through which the signal GO is exhibited when the semaphore arms are in nor-` mal position, as will presently appear. These apertures are, of, course, duplicated on the twosides ofthe figure, so that the same signal will be exhibited in two directions.

The semaphore arms 18 and 19, which simulate the arms of a person7 are oscillatably v mounted on pivots 2O that aresecuredin the casing in any appropriate way, and the arms have angularly disposed yextensions 21 and 22, respectively, beyondthe pivots, that are exposed at the windows or openings 17 when the arms 'are in a lowered position. These extensions are lettered and the former has the letter G on one side depicted on it, and thev latter the letter "O' on one side, so that when the arms are in operative position, the

word GO will appear at the openings 17. f

For the reverse side, the letters are,`of course,

in reverse order to insure that they will be readgcorrectly from the other side.

Links 23 and 24 are piv'otally connected to the respective arms 18 and 19, and these links have their inner ends connected to a reciprocatory pitman'25, which latter 'moves apjxoroxifa -mateiy vertically in a guide 26 en the inside of the casing. A( pintle or pin 257l extends through the vpitman and a lever 27 and pulls the links downwardly when the semaphore arinsareto be raised to approximately horizontal positions, it beingunderstood that the `weight of the arms is suiiicient to cause them to resume their normal positions when they are released, as will he presently explained.

The links 23 and 24 are shown as pivoted to the inner ends of the arms 18 and 19 insidey of Y the location of the pivots 20 for theV arms in order that when the armsare lowered and their inner ends are raised, 'they will exert a pull on .the links to restore someof the parts toner-mal operative positions.

A detent or dog 28 is oscillatable on apivot. 29, and `itlhas an' extension or tail 30 that is in operative relation to a magnet 31 iii-order that when the magnet is energized, the eX- tension will be drawn toward'the magnet and vthe dog will beheld in engagement with the lever. VThe extension is of sufficient weight to'hold the dog normally out ot the path oit travel of the lever, but the power of the magnet when energized, swings the dog into engagement with the lever and holds it so long as currentis supplied to the magnet.

. The lever is mounted on a pivot 33 and it hasa pin 84 that is engagedhy a cam 34a that the cam 34a.

' suitable switch at a distance from the signal forces the leverdownwardlywhen the motor 35 is energized; it being shown that the motor is associated with aworm 36 avliich it drives andthe worm in. turn rotates the toothed `.wheel 37 which it engage/s, -and the said toothedwheel is on the shatiSY that also has Hence, when current is estal lished through them'otor, theV ca-m is rotated, and engaging as it does `the 'pin 34, the lever is depressedto the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 1 and the dog engages the levei1 to ietain the parts in their operative positions. i Upon the deeiiergization of themagnet, however, the dog releases the lever and the parts then assume their normal positions.

The conductors 38 and'39 may lead to any it being the intention of the inventor that the battery. the circuit, a lamp y50 which is displayed at 'said switch shall be closed by a. train passingv over the track, identified by the rails 40 and 41, although anyA suitable switch and any suitable switchclosing means may be employed. The conductor .38, in-this illustration, connects the `rail 40 with one pole of the. battery 42, 'and the conductor 39 is connected to the rail 41 andto the other pole of the The said conductor 89 includes in the aperture 16 and the audible signal 47, which isin -the nature of an electric bell.

The rrail 41 hasa conductor B leading `from it to the shaft S'aof'the wheel 37", andwhen circuit is established, the wheel 37b isy ener- Igized. {The conductor42a establishes a connection from the battery 42 tothe motor and to the magnet 3l. A conductor C leads from one pole .ot the magnet 31 to the conductor B, and the magnet will be energized so long as the train is on the rails, as will he seen from' thewiring diagram. y

-1Asvstated, the'casing is' provided with a hell 4'? which is also in circuit with the battery through the conductor 39 and the bell is energized at the time the semaphore arms are lifted.

The wheel 37h has an insulated segment 51.

on 'its side, whereas the remainder of the side of the said wheel is a conductor ofelectricity.

The conductor 52 is in circuit with the motor and it is connected to a terminal 53 on the lever 54,` which lever 54. has a link 55 connecting itto one oi thesemaphore arms in order that the motion of the semaphore arm will he coinnfiunicated te the lever and oscil? late it on its pivot, which pivot, in the present embodiment of the invention, is the shaftv of the wheel 37b. The terminal 53 has a brush 56 connected to it, and this brush is carried downwardly into engagement with the-insulation when the wheel 37b hasrotated to a `position to raise lthe semaphore arms. When this occurs, the circuit through .the motor is 'intrrupted and thedriving operation of the motor is discontinued. v f f lVhen .the arms are elevated, the arrangement of the circuit ssu'ch that themagnet will be energized and cause the dog to engage the vshoe 57 on the lever 27,a relation of parts which .will cause the-latch to hold the arms normally elevated. The brush 56 is insulated from the lever 54 and a circuit is established through the motorwhen the. brush is on that part of the wheel 37b which is conductive. As the semaphore arms descend, the arrange ment of parts is suoli that the brushleaves tlieinsulated seement of tliewheel 37b, and

when it does so, a circuitwill be established when a car has reached that vportion of the track constituting the block orjestablishing a circuitl through the motor.

Itwill be apparent, therefore, that when a car is on the trackv that is blocked, the motor willbe energized to anextent'that` it-willA drive the worm and gear to elevate the semal for another operation ofthe device when a car reaches the block.

As the operation or" the device, or .the elements thereof has been stated in vconnection with a descriptionvof the elements, it is helieved unnecessary to furnish a rsum of the operation of the mechanism or device, since 5 mounted semaphore member, a link extending therefrom, an oscillatably mounted lever t0 Which the link is connected, an electric motor driven Wheel having an insulating segment, a Contact on the lever engageable Wlth a surface of the Wheel and the insulating` segment,

a source of electricity and a circuit for the said motor including the said Wheel'and the said lever, an'oscillatably mounted lever associated With means Whereby movement of the aforesaid Wheel is communicated t0 the lever, an electrically controlled means for holding the last mentioned lever out of 'the path of travel of the aforesaid lever moving means, and means Jfor connecting the said lever to the semaphore arm whereby movement 0f the semaphore arm is imparted to the lever When said lever is released.

JOHN B. ARcHiBALn. 

